Chapter Seven. Diversions on a theme: Texts on āpaddharma II

The Āpaddharmaparvan (ĀDhP) takes a somewhat new turn, both structurally and thematically. The four units analysed in this chapter form something of a group in the ĀDhP. All four units contain fables and their frames, while not inconsequential, are relatively loose. In units 14, 15 and 16 the political (nīti) element preoccupying many earlier texts mostly recede. The thematic connection to issues of āpaddharma, as also explored in the units prior to these four, is less pronounced too, a detail reflected in the language of these texts, since they contain no instances of the word āpad. From a formal point of view, units 14, 15 and 17 share the feature of being multi-chapter texts, and in addition units 16 and 17 have no praśna in the Critical Edition. It makes sense, therefore, to think of these four texts as forming a group.Keywords: Āpaddharmaparvan (ĀDhP); āpaddharma; praśna